St Marco Posted 29 August, 2011 Share Posted 29 August, 2011 Not sure if it is just me but i really dislike the international breaks now. If the riots had not happened we would of had 2 England friendlies in the first 5 games of the season (only 3 in PL). That was one of the great things about L1 was we still played every weekend. I just don't see the point of them anymore. Can you really learn anything from the games? I think a better system would be to have a mini break in winter maybe 2 weeks and play 3 games then. And then after the season finishes have another 3 games. You would learn so much more by playing in a group of games closer together then spread out once every month or two. Most of the time now players look for a reason to drop out of the National side for friendlies anyway. Just seems like a waste of time to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint137 Posted 29 August, 2011 Share Posted 29 August, 2011 Hate them, especially this early in the season, they break up the momentum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huffton Posted 29 August, 2011 Share Posted 29 August, 2011 Hate them. It was probably the one thing I liked about League 1, none of this ********. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70's Mike Posted 29 August, 2011 Share Posted 29 August, 2011 Hate them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legod Third Coming Posted 29 August, 2011 Share Posted 29 August, 2011 Hate them. International football is increasingly pointless. Could not agree more. I will happily admit to being a Southampton fan first and foremost and an England fan by default. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junction 9 Posted 29 August, 2011 Share Posted 29 August, 2011 Not sure if it is just me but i really dislike the international breaks now. If the riots had not happened we would of had 2 England friendlies in the first 5 games of the season (only 3 in PL). That was one of the great things about L1 was we still played every weekend. I just don't see the point of them anymore. Can you really learn anything from the games? I think a better system would be to have a mini break in winter maybe 2 weeks and play 3 games then. And then after the season finishes have another 3 games. You would learn so much more by playing in a group of games closer together then spread out once every month or two. Most of the time now players look for a reason to drop out of the National side for friendlies anyway. Just seems like a waste of time to me. This is a European championship qualifier fixture, why are you talking about learning anything from it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 29 August, 2011 Share Posted 29 August, 2011 Bloody hate them. Can't feel any excitement for the national team at the moment and it needlessly breaks any rhythm that otherwise would have been generated. League 1 had a big plus in not needing to adhere to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aintforever Posted 29 August, 2011 Share Posted 29 August, 2011 I always want England to lose now, refuse to support them until Rooney, Terry and Cole have f*cked off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintmatt Posted 29 August, 2011 Share Posted 29 August, 2011 I like the fact this is "like them or hate them" as opposed to "love them or hate them".. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott_saints Posted 29 August, 2011 Share Posted 29 August, 2011 I always want England to lose now, refuse to support them until Rooney, Terry and Cole have f*cked off. I guess you're one of those people that after the s**t world cup, was calling for us to "start from scratch and play all the youngsters", conveniently forgetting they will be the players you hate when they are regular first teamers and England are still underperforming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 29 August, 2011 Share Posted 29 August, 2011 I enjoy England games and will be watching Saturday and be at Wembley on Tuesday. Drama queens mithering over nowt as per usual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodsaint Posted 29 August, 2011 Share Posted 29 August, 2011 As im a big northern ireland fan, i quite like them. Helps give me a break from the stress of following saints all season!! Only time i dont like them is when were on a great run and it breaks up the momentum....but as were coming off a defeat, not too fussed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CWD Posted 29 August, 2011 Share Posted 29 August, 2011 It annoys me when people claim they want England to lose. I don't care who it is who pulls on that shirt, they are representing our country on a world stage and for that reason they should be supported. There is a lack of patriotism in this country that is quite appalling, and one thing we could learn a lot from the Americans about. Another thing that pees me off is when people say friendlies are pointless, and then slag off the team when they come to a major tournament and it's obvious that the team need more time playing together! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clash City Saint Posted 29 August, 2011 Share Posted 29 August, 2011 I enjoy England games and will be watching Saturday and be at Wembley on Tuesday. Think you'll be better off tuning in on Friday...k.o. 7.45 Sky Sports 1 HTH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revolution saint Posted 29 August, 2011 Share Posted 29 August, 2011 Hate them, don't have the same affinity with England as I do Saints. Saints can disappoint me endlessly and I still can't give them up but England.....well I just don't care in the same way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 29 August, 2011 Share Posted 29 August, 2011 (edited) Think you'll be better off tuning in on Friday...k.o. 7.45 Sky Sports 1 HTH LOL. Yep. Still seems odd having them on a Friday. Edited 29 August, 2011 by View From The Top Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micky Posted 29 August, 2011 Share Posted 29 August, 2011 England international football team - biggest sporting anti climax - every time, without fail. Talk about 'getting up' for the game - really cannot remember the last time that I was even overly interested, let alone 'up for the game'. Hate them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Marco Posted 29 August, 2011 Author Share Posted 29 August, 2011 It annoys me when people claim they want England to lose. I don't care who it is who pulls on that shirt, they are representing our country on a world stage and for that reason they should be supported. There is a lack of patriotism in this country that is quite appalling, and one thing we could learn a lot from the Americans about. Another thing that pees me off is when people say friendlies are pointless, and then slag off the team when they come to a major tournament and it's obvious that the team need more time playing together! Don't get me wrong i am proud of coming from England (although sometimes you have to wonder why considering it is now totally fooked) and will always want them to win. But i think in terms of football levels it is now below club level. If Barcelona were put into the World Cup they would destroy every team. Most of the champ league teams would. The European Championships and the World Cup are now below The Champions League and Premier League. If you google it your see a lot of top players and managers say the same thing. It is nice to see England win but in all honesty win or lose does anyone give a ****? If Saints lose we feel ****ed off. The national team has been a joke for so long that people no longer care. The whole "die for England" i.e Pearce persona has long gone. Just a bunch of spoiled bastards who make loads of money and cheat on their wife and kids. Don't see many of them playing with passion anymore. The fact these clubs play twice a week means they get to know each other and get to know how each other plays. Playing one game every month or so will not bring that unity. I was wrong though it is not a friendly game. But when these games are played needs to be looked at. As it is clear just on here most dislike national games. That might be for many reasons. But mine is as i said i think club level is far more important now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Who? Posted 29 August, 2011 Share Posted 29 August, 2011 Cannot stand the international break at all, and this close to the start of the season is even worse. England games bore me, but of course I hope they do well, but do not expect them to like most. Saints I am far more passionate about!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aintforever Posted 29 August, 2011 Share Posted 29 August, 2011 I guess you're one of those people that after the s**t world cup, was calling for us to "start from scratch and play all the youngsters", conveniently forgetting they will be the players you hate when they are regular first teamers and England are still underperforming. Nope, just enjoy watching Rooney, Terry and Cole lose football matches because they are arse-holes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 29 August, 2011 Share Posted 29 August, 2011 jesus adrian...chill out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micky Posted 29 August, 2011 Share Posted 29 August, 2011 Actually, thinking about it - I don't even know why there is an international break. Who are we playing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paris Posted 29 August, 2011 Share Posted 29 August, 2011 I think it comes at a good time so the team can recharge the batterys and kick on .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ_TOAST Posted 29 August, 2011 Share Posted 29 August, 2011 I couldn't care less about the England team / games...never have done, never will do (apart from when Le Tiss was in there). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 29 August, 2011 Share Posted 29 August, 2011 I hate them. England have never played well since they abandoned midweek internationals and introduced these mid-season breaks. The longer the manager has with the players the worse they play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Fan CaM Posted 29 August, 2011 Share Posted 29 August, 2011 Can't say I hate Internationals, but I dislike what the English game has to serve up thanks to an outdated FA and a bunch of overpaid tarts. Count the percentage of English players in the Prem and that will tell you all you need to know about English football at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulwantsapint Posted 30 August, 2011 Share Posted 30 August, 2011 Double edged sword love international saints but can ruin the team when players are away from training or return injured Any way the media ruin England by building them up so high to then smash them down Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niceandfriendly Posted 30 August, 2011 Share Posted 30 August, 2011 I enjoy England games and will be watching Saturday and be at Wembley on Tuesday. Drama queens mithering over nowt as per usual. You pay money to watch the England football team? You must be either completely mental or insanely rich. They're without a doubt the most boring and depressing team to watch. Their style of play is horrendous, and the team is full of, I'm sorry to say, cretins. I don't want England to lose, why would I? But I don't want to have to watch them play, be it live or on TV. I think I'd rather buy a season ticket at Fratton, at least there'd be a smidgen of entertainment there. And that 'smidgen' being laughing at the blue few, you understand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperMikey Posted 30 August, 2011 Share Posted 30 August, 2011 Not a huge fan of international breaks on the whole, but I think this has come at a good time for us. We've played 6 games with virtually the same side, and that would take a great toll were it not for this breather. I think this break gives us a chance to let the players rest, work on poorer aspects of their game (which will have been extensively highlighted by Nigel and the coaching staff) and prepare for our upcoming fixtures. We've got a few very tough games coming up in September which we need to be 100% bang on prepared for, otherwise we could slip up. It's vital that we build up confidence and - more importantly - points at this stage of the season. Tired legs will lead to slip-ups towards the end of the season and we will need every advantage we can get. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Bognor Posted 30 August, 2011 Share Posted 30 August, 2011 Not a huge fan of international breaks on the whole, but I think this has come at a good time for us. We've played 6 games with virtually the same side, and that would take a great toll were it not for this breather. I think this break gives us a chance to let the players rest, work on poorer aspects of their game (which will have been extensively highlighted by Nigel and the coaching staff) and prepare for our upcoming fixtures. We've got a few very tough games coming up in September which we need to be 100% bang on prepared for, otherwise we could slip up. It's vital that we build up confidence and - more importantly - points at this stage of the season. Tired legs will lead to slip-ups towards the end of the season and we will need every advantage we can get. It's not really an advantage when all the other teams get a rest too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperMikey Posted 30 August, 2011 Share Posted 30 August, 2011 It's not really an advantage when all the other teams get a rest too True, but a lot of teams will have international call-ups to deal with and I can't think of any Saints player that will be going off on International duty this weekend. Nottingham Forest and Birmingham will certainly have call-ups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 30 August, 2011 Share Posted 30 August, 2011 You pay money to watch the England football team? You must be either completely mental or insanely rich.. My nipper loves going and that's good enough for me and at £20 for myself and £10 for the nipper it's hardly expensive compared to Saints. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verbal Kint Posted 30 August, 2011 Share Posted 30 August, 2011 It annoys me when people claim they want England to lose. I don't care who it is who pulls on that shirt, they are representing our country on a world stage and for that reason they should be supported. There is a lack of patriotism in this country that is quite appalling, and one thing we could learn a lot from the Americans about. I refuse to support odious men such as John Terry, regardless of what nationality he may be Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saints-cris Posted 30 August, 2011 Share Posted 30 August, 2011 Hate them, watching England play is so boring. They clearly dont give a **** so nor will I. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobM Posted 30 August, 2011 Share Posted 30 August, 2011 I think they are a necessary evil, but not if they are used to host friendly games! For competitive games, they are necessary IMO. Not necessarily for us right now, but we are aiming for the top and that will hopefully include picking up some international players along the way. If we didn't have these breaks, we would either lose those players so they can play for their country, or they would have to try and fit club and country games in and risk injury and fatigue. So I don't like them, I don't really care about international football, but it would be short sighted to say I want to get rid of them. It will come back and haunt us if we achieve the success and positions we wish for. If we were happy to stick in this league and not pick up international players, I might be on the side of getting rid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paris Posted 30 August, 2011 Share Posted 30 August, 2011 Funny i remember a time when the Brit international teams would have very little preperation for their games and the majority of people where crying out for the adoption of the european style breaks which we now have, i believe them to be a good thing ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadhall Saint Posted 30 August, 2011 Share Posted 30 August, 2011 Understand why but if its just a friendly?? If a group game/qualifier then am supportive other than that it breals our momentum etc etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 30 August, 2011 Share Posted 30 August, 2011 I actually quite like the breaks as it means I've got a weekend that isn't completely taken over by Saints - if I still fancy doing a game always a good chance to do a new ground in the lower leagues or a local non-league match. Or with the amount of money football currently costs, helps the bank balance having a weekend off! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dubai_phil Posted 30 August, 2011 Share Posted 30 August, 2011 What a myopic view of football in England some still have. International Breaks are nothing to do with only "The England Team" any more. Saints are one club who have a high percentage of "Brits" in their team. Many other teams have players from Asia, Africa and South America who all have to fly off on 10 or 20 hour flights to countries where they still have some Pride in their National teams. Sure England players don't deserve a break, but as Saints fans we'd soon be up in arms in a year or two's time in the EPL if we lost 4 or 5 of our players for a week while they fly back home and turn up jetlagged to hell. Just because the England "Club" is now a cosy Marketing Opportunity for pampered players that we have become disillusioned with International football. A good 99% of the planet still enjoy it, and we draw our players from the same planet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 30 August, 2011 Share Posted 30 August, 2011 The fact that I was born in Monmouthshire and don't even care about the England v Wales match next week (when I have a claim on being from both or either) pretty much sums up how interesting International Football is nowadays. The whole thing needs a revamp, and I don't mean a Champions League style ruining either. At some point they're going to have to realise that most football fans only really care about major championship finals, and turn the off-years into similarly-designed qualification competitions with a few locations providing multiple matches. Compact the entire international calendar into one or two blocks of competition football and get rid of all this friendly and international week rubbish - much better for everyone to get it all out of the way in one or two hits. E.g. January 2013 hosts the first half of the 2014 World Cup qualifying competition - the 50-odd European Teams are split into basically the groups they're in at the moment, everyone plays 3 or 4 group matches (one every 6-ish days) from one of about 8 neutral locations around Europe. Due to the neutral locations, every team only plays each other once. There are NO matches in any European Leagues in January - this coincides with the African Cup of Nations and the usual European winter breaks already. Pitches shouldn't be an issue, in fact the only problem I can see is low attendances - which could be addressed in part by (maybe) not making the venues quite as neutral... though that has the problem of bias. The same happens in June 2013, with the last group games (could be 2 or 3 games depending on group size) held at the start of the month, then the Playoffs for those who haven't qualified yet to sort out the final qualification places. The whole thing is pulled together by a pre-planned schedule World Cup style, so everyone knows who's playing where and when, and the matches aren't overlapping (you can fit 3 matches in per evening from different countries and time zones) so tv can cover the whole thing if it wants. 2014 has the World Cup itself, 2015 would be UEFA 2016 qualification on a similar model. There, fixed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benj Posted 30 August, 2011 Share Posted 30 August, 2011 I don't find International football interesting at all anymore. I still want England to win but I don't attach anywhere near the same emotions to it as I do to Saints. I'd much rather Saints got promoted than England won Euro 2012. I would however love to see some games played by teams featuring the best players from a league (Prem vs. La Liga vs. Bundesliga etc.) Although there's nowhere near enough depth of quality around the world to make a competition out of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Bateman Posted 30 August, 2011 Share Posted 30 August, 2011 I dislike the international break purely as I miss all the football on the weekend. I don't just mean Saints, but ALL the football - the build up, Match of the Day, Sky Sports on Sunday etc. I'll be watching and supporting England though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Marco Posted 1 October, 2011 Author Share Posted 1 October, 2011 Another 2 week break..... Against Montenegro..... who are ranked 22nd in the Fifa list. (they were 16th in June) How the feck does a team that was formed in 2007 (ranked 199) get to be ranked 16th-22nd in just 4 years? They failed to qualify for the world cup.... Sure they are doing ok in the current euro campaign (drawing with us) but how are they ahead of teams who did well in the last world cup i.e Ghana? Or does Blatter have a "friend" from there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie saint Posted 3 October, 2011 Share Posted 3 October, 2011 It annoys me when people claim they want England to lose. I don't care who it is who pulls on that shirt, they are representing our country on a world stage and for that reason they should be supported. There is a lack of patriotism in this country that is quite appalling, and one thing we could learn a lot from the Americans about. Hmmm... your opinion. Mine - firstly, I can tell the difference between the country I'm from and a football team which happens to share its name with it. Secondly - If (and it's a big 'if') I am proud of anything about the country I'm from, it's that we don't for now have Compulsory Patriotism like they seem to in the USA. Back to football: I can't be bothered to watch or care about England Football Team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithd Posted 3 October, 2011 Share Posted 3 October, 2011 As we're doing well and want momentum, dislike them If we were doing poorly I'd welcome the break to take stock and get some quality training and or R&R in. As for England, I like watching them as a social event - i.e get together with the lads down the pub, but couldnt give a monkeys if they do well or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 3 October, 2011 Share Posted 3 October, 2011 My main concern is whether they disrupt our momentum. Seeing as we drew, then lost and now won again, I was ambivalent about this break, but now thinking about it I am p*ssed off. I would like us to have built on the Watford game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ_TOAST Posted 3 October, 2011 Share Posted 3 October, 2011 Is that why there's no game this weekend ? who's playing if so ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nutwood2 Posted 3 October, 2011 Share Posted 3 October, 2011 Absolutely love them. Can't wait to see my heroes Cole, Terry, Lampard, Rooney and Ferdinand sock it to some Eastern European enclave who haven't got a hope. I don't even bother to watch anymore. I really don't. How anyone would want to take their kids to Wembley to watch the dross that Capello serves up is completely beyond me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 3 October, 2011 Share Posted 3 October, 2011 Hate them. International football is increasingly pointless. the only positive is that your players get a rest for a week (not always a good thing if it breaks continuity), but tougher on teams with many internationals who end up playing more games anyway. Your regular players can train and recover, but your best players (internationals) end up kn*ackered by the time they're back ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avenue Saint Posted 3 October, 2011 Share Posted 3 October, 2011 Can't lie you do do miss the football but when the table says you're the best and top of the league, you gotta love it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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